Alex first became ill this time last year when he started complaining of headaches, but doctors put it down to migraines.

A couple of weeks later he woke up screaming in pain and vomiting. His mum managed to settle him but, later, when she went to check on him, he was unresponsive. He was rushed to hospitalfor treatment for a bleed on the brain and returned home days later.

The family of Alex McCarthy have been fund-raising to help the hospital where he was treated

But when he went back to hospital for the results of a biopsy, taken at the time of his operation, his family were told the devastating news that Alex had cancer. Despite under-going numerous rounds of treatment - with some positive effects - a few weeks ago they were told the cancer had returned to two areas of his brain and was inoperable.

Now the youngster, who has younger siblings Ryan, 11, and Ciara, 8, along with his mum Rebecca Watts, have put together a list of things they would like to do together to create some happy lasting memories - including enjoying a trip to London and a ride in a racing car.

Rebecca, 35, who now lives with her family in Bristol, said: "At this point there’s not much more that they can do for him, apart from manage his seizures and keep him as well as possible for as long as they can.

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"We’ve been told that we just need to make the most of the time we have now. They don’t know for certain how long he's got but they have said it’s months and not years. He’s due to turn 14 in January!"

"I had a suspicion it had come back but was not prepared for the news that it was terminal. Alex was there when we had the news, his initial reaction was shock then he got upset.

"The doctor suggested Alex write a bucket list to do as much of the things he wants to do."

Rebecca lived in Derby between 2001-2010 where she studied and worked at The University of Derby. All three children were born in Derby and Alex went to Brackensdale Infants in Mackworth until they moved down south to be closer to her family.

Since Alex was diagnosed cancer the family have completed a number of fund-raising events to help raise money for the Bristol hospital where he was treated.